CSS Waivers

How effective are CSS Waivers for uncooperative noncustodial parents?

My daughter’s requests for non-custodial parent waivers were granted this year at Stanford, Princeton, Rice, Cornell and SMU (five out of seven were granted). It was a lot of work to assemble her statement, letters from non-related professionals, and supporting documents. We spent about two weeks after work/school and on Saturdays assembling everything and making sure we were following each institution’s particular requirements for 7 schools. Don’t wait til the last minute, and make sure to note the deadlines. I’ll be honest, I did not think it would be granted by so many of the universities based on what I had read here and our particular fact pattern, so we were overjoyed with the outcome. We knew when she applied to these private universities that she would not be able to attend if the NCP Waivers were not granted, thus we worked very hard to present an honest account of her situation backed up by documentary evidence. My daughter would not have been eligible for such generous grants and financial assistance and would not have been able to choose between Stanford , Princeton, Rice and Cornell without the NCP Waivers. If you have some specific questions, feel free to direct message me.

@Harmonyhill

Uncooperative in that the parent just won’t complete the form? That is not the basis for a waiver. What makes you think you would qualify for a waiver?

The waiver form at https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/pdf/css-profile-waiver-request-non-custodial-parent.pdf has examples of waiver reasons that are more and less likely to be considered, though each college will differ.

Because there is little or no transparency in how likely a given college will grant a waiver, all colleges where a waiver is needed for affordability should be considered reaches.

And check…because at some colleges…you have to apply for a waiver every year you are seeking aid.